The upcoming Jambo Africa Festival in Perth WA has received a major boost, with Amber-Jade Sanderson proudly presenting $30,000 in funding from Lotterywest to support this year’s event. The funding will help deliver what has become Western Australia’s largest annual celebration of African culture, enterprise and community connection.
Hosted by the Organisation of African Communities in Western Australia (OACWA), the festival takes place over three transformative days each year, bringing together thousands of attendees from across Perth and beyond.
OACWA’s president CastyHughes (centre) and Ayor Chuot, MP (left) and Amber Jade Sanderson, MP
“Jambo,” a Swahili word meaning “hello,” captures the welcoming spirit that defines the event. The festival has grown steadily over the years into a vibrant platform showcasing the richness and diversity of African Australian communities in Western Australia. From electrifying live music and traditional dance performances to fashion showcases and storytelling, the festival celebrates both heritage and contemporary African creativity.
But Jambo Africa is more than a cultural gathering. It has also become a powerful space for entrepreneurship and economic visibility. Business expos and market stalls provide African Australian entrepreneurs with opportunities to promote their products and services, connect with new customers, and strengthen commercial networks within the wider community.
Food is another centrepiece of the festival experience. Visitors can sample a rich array of African cuisines, reflecting the continent’s vast culinary traditions. Family-friendly activities and community engagement initiatives ensure that the event remains inclusive and accessible to all generations.
Lotterywest’s support is particularly significant. As Western Australia’s state-owned lottery, Lotterywest reinvests profits into community initiatives across arts, culture, sport and social development. Its backing of Jambo Africa underscores the festival’s importance not only to African Australians but to the broader multicultural fabric of the State.
For OACWA, the annual festival is a statement of pride and unity. It creates a space where African Australians can celebrate their identities openly while inviting the wider community to share in the experience. Each year, the festival strengthens intercultural understanding and reinforces the message that diversity is one of Western Australia’s greatest strengths.
With fresh funding secured and anticipation building for April, Jambo Africa Festival is once again set to deliver three days of colour, rhythm, flavour and opportunity — a celebration where culture meets community and where African Australian contributions continue to shine brightly on the Western Australian stage.
